BEREA, Ohio — For the first time in five years, there is no ambiguity with Joshua Cribbs’ role
on the Cleveland Browns.

Nor is there any talk about him playing wildcat quarterback, running back or full-time receiver,
for that matter. Cribbs is returning to his former spot as Cleveland’s special-teams specialist,
playing on all of its return and coverage units.

And he needs to be good.

“I’m going to rededicate myself to scoring touchdowns on kickoffs and punt returns,” Cribbs said
yesterday, “because that’s what our coaches want me to do. My role is changing again. They want
more production out of special teams, so I’ll give it to them the best I can.”

Cribbs, 29, already owns the NFL record with eight career kickoff return touchdowns and averaged
25.0 yards per runback last season. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he ranks fifth in league history
with 11 total return touchdowns, most recently taking back a punt 84 yards at Baltimore last Dec.
24.

With that kind of ability on a team that annually needs a jolt offensively, Cribbs was installed
into the offense by three Browns coaches: Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini and even Pat Shurmur last
year. They gradually removed the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder from their coverage units, and gave him a
chance with the offense.

The results? Not bad. Over the past four seasons, Cribbs logged 111 rushes for 639 yards, made
86 receptions, threw 11 passes, scored nine touchdowns and started 26 games at receiver. The former
Kent State quarterback’s production peaked in 2011, in fact, when he tied for the team lead with
four receiving touchdowns and made a career-high 41 catches.

But it’s time to go back to the future, perhaps. Less than two weeks into camp, Shurmur has
already shot down any chance Cribbs will better those numbers this fall.

“Josh is a special-teams player that plays receiver,” Shurmur said flatly. “He’s a special-teams
player.”

Filling in

The Browns are still trying to come up with a rotation that might substitute for injured
defensive tackle Phil Taylor, who is expected to miss much of the season because of a torn pectoral
muscle that required surgery in May.

So far, the Browns have a patchwork system that includes rookies Billy Winn and John Hughes and
veterans John Paxson and Brian Schaefering.

“I would say on our roster, we’re going to have to roll a few people in there,” Shurmur said. “
We’re trying to find the right combination.”

Linebackers impressive

Of all the positions at camp, Shurmur said he has been most impressed with the play of the
linebackers group.

“It’s kind of all in a pile when we evaluate them,” Shurmur said. “We say, ‘Let’s see how they
do when you put the pads on.’ ”

Newcomers Emmanuel Acho and James-Michael Johnson have shown potential, but Shurmur said, “the
list goes on and on of young linebackers. For the most part, that group has done a good job.”